"Difficult to reach" may be the point when it comes to desserts and flower vases (say if you have kids). Salt, pepper and napkins, I agree--hard to reach is not a feature.

But, yeah, it seems odd and not very functional.

I kinda like it. We spend a lot of time at our kitchen island, and seems like I'm constantly moving something out of the way to make room for our dinner plates. I can see using that raised section for a bowl of fruit and vase of flowers. While functional, I'm not crazy about the look of the electrical outlets though.

I guess it's one way to hide dishes in the sink in an open plan.

I think it's absolutely terrific for kids (or anyone) and their devices, and would be a great spot for homework.

I guess if you had kids and didn't mind clutter. I'd rather have the island clear from stuff because it tends to collect everything. What are these things called anyway?

I can't decide if I dislike it or not (the function and concept), but for me the overriding problem is the squareness on the island with soft rounded edge. Maybe a rounded one wouldn't be as jarring to me and I could decide if it were practical.

I wouldn't like that large of an island anyway, but with that appendage, it would prevent you from really spreading out to ??? roll dough, place multiple cookie sheets while baking, etc. without moving the chairs or interfering with the eating area. Imagining myself there, I think I'd always be wanting to push it out of the way.

It would be nice in a library or study room for a family of nerds but uhhhhh...no.

It doesn't really look like a working kitchen anyway so it probably doesn't matter.

I glanced at the picture, and at first I thought that's a weird place to put a box. I think it would look cluttered even if all of that stuff wasn't on there.

I would never be able to reach it without a stepstool. I imagine it's there mostly to provide a place for the electrical outlets. Although, I can see how it would work well to keep items from being pushed off the island by people who are using their laptops or toys on the rest of the island.

The outlets may be to meet code--every ?? inches of counter needs an outlet.

It does look like there may be a charging station there as well though...

I wonder if someone was thinking of creative ways to put the required outlets on the island and got carried away?

It's definitely in the way - and an eyesore. I want an unbroken surface on an island top. This is an island on top of an island, which is overkill. You could put miniature chairs around it with dolls sitting in them, however.

Nope. Don't like it one bit. It totally disrupts the flow of the stone counter and to me, it's just a clutter magnet. I have three kids, and we feed lots of people, families, kids frequently and this would just be a huge PITA to function around. Give me a clean run of counter any day over that.

Make a bit more sense from /a different perspective, but still...it's a reach

I find it appalling. It's for those who can't eat a meal without their devices.

It could also be for kids who gather 'round the island to do homework, or for an adult who enjoys utilizing that space to work on their projects requiring devices. It could also be for someone who wants to have a bowl of cereal before bed, and enjoys checking the home decorating forums whilst doing so!

A little off topic, but I'm curious Fori why this doesn't look like a working kitchen? From the towels on the oven handles, the coffee maker, the mostly used roll of paper towels, to the knife block in the corner with a cutting board tucked behind, it looks like a real used for cooking kitchen to me. What about it doesn't to you? (Oh, maybe all the photos weren't posted when you wrote that?)

Tall people with long arms live here.

I hate it when people hang towels on oven doors - it looks tacky (to me) and makes it difficult to use the ovens. It is also an indication that the kitchen lacks proper storage for towels, or that the oven do not get used. I have a towel rack inside a cabinet door, so that the towels stay hidden. My sister hung a towel on my oven door once, and I moved it immediately. I have a beautiful oven - the towel was not so pretty.

Personally, I do not want anyone utilizing my kitchen space for projects requiring devices, but then I do not have children. I barely have a smart phone myself - my brother got me my first one last week, but I use it mostly for getting driving directions. This kitchen looks like it is in the suburbs, and I live in the city. I think it is fine for someone with children, but not for me. It definitely looks used - no one would stage something like that.

Well, take the towels. Not near a sink. Knives, not near a prep area (unless you count the tiny bit of counter by the cooktop to be a prep area). I'm sure there's a fridge somewhere out of frame but it's not terribly convenient to cooking. They do seem to go through a lot of dishes.

People probably cook there, and I'm sure it's a bit staged and all those towels in the wrong place would go away in real life, but it's not designed for the best function, and I'm not even talking about the island's oddity.

Olychick A little off topic, but I'm curious Fori why this doesn't look like a working kitchen?

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I think it may be a real kitchen that's staged, but I don't like the actual work triangle with the refrigerator being on the other side of the island

My knives aren't near my prep area, they are in a spot out of the way almost like in the pictured kitchen. (I cook all the time.)

That said, I would not like that raised island on the island in my kitchen. But I am also not unreasonable when the grandkids come over and use devices at my island. Island snacking is different from table eating in our house.

I can imagine all the spilled glasses of milk with the kids having to get up on their knees and reach that far for a napkin. For as huge as that island is, I don't think that raised box makes it much more functional.

I don't care for the look of it, but I'd name it island mesa. Lots of geography in that kitchen.

Fori and chijim thanks for your answers. I just thought those touches were a little "homey" for a staged kitchen or one in a home where it really isn't used to cook (mostly take-out served, etc).

I can't have knives out after watching Fatal Attraction...!

Not sure I agree about the reach issue. If you could reach the middle of the island the height would not make a huge difference. I have towels on my oven and it doesn't affect my daily use of it at all--that comment really confused me. I do think the outlets make it look like one would be on a devise is sitting there. One would be a convenience for IF you so need one--but all those??? Definitely appears to be the airport with a lot of charging stations--a very sad statement on where families are at.

I would need to climb on it to reach the center.

I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight knowing that Lars would sneer seeing a dish towel draped over each fridge door in my kitchen. And some days they don't even match.

LOL -- I love all of you people!!!

I have a towel on my oven handle, and most of my towels have holes in them, too.

I think the oven handle is probably the only place in most kitchens where there is something horizontal and wide enough to spread out the towel to dry and it's also not against the wood finish of a cabinet. (Towel pigs, people with large European style bar handles and newer dishwashers with a big handle, and people who put them on their bottom mount freezer excluded, I guess).

I've often wondered why more kitchens don't have towel bars in them. I am trying to think of someplace to put one when I remodel.

The house I grew up in had a three bar pullout inside a special cabinet but that meant opening the cabinet with wet hands and dripping on the floor so that quickly fell out of use.

Of course there were plenty of these made for sales at local schools and churches, The older ones seemed to have fabric on the top, the more recent ones seemed to be crocheted on top. I think this towel might have a goose with a bonnet on it.

I have two towels like Pal shows above, one on the range/oven handle and one on the DW. It really cuts down on my paper towel for drying my hands use. I haven't been able to find any decent ones that hang like that - I think most people who crochet the tops must buy the towels at the dollar store :( but I recently found some solid color (I bought dark blue) ones from Vermont Country store. The towels are cotton, there is a fabric hanging piece that velcros shut (I hate the ones with buttons). Pretty nice quality.

Hanging towels Vermont Country Store

I don't think I would like that. I saw this thread earlier today and it was the first time I've seen this done. I then saw a commercial tonight (countertop store) featuring this look!

For us, the island is sort of where everyone gathers around to chat whether it is daily with family or friends at parties. That centre thing would block conversation. Also, I think it looks stupid.

I don't care for the way it looks. I'd assume that people would use the outlets for small appliances as well as electronic devices.

Do not care for the island set up. We have outlets in our island but they placed just below the countertop. One of the few things about my kitchen I like. Guilty of towels on oven, really no other place to put them. Usually keep one by sink and one on oven door. My last house, where I designed my kitchen, had a thin cabinet with towel racks built in right next to the sink.

I'm surprised at the comments about charging stations being a sad commentary on lifestyle. (Personally, I think the outlets are rather ugly, but I can't understand extending an aesthetic opinion to a moral judgment.) I guess if you choose to see it that way, then for you it's a sad statement - but for most people, it's the reality of living, working, and being educated in America or Canada (or any number of other countries) in the 21st century. Technology isn't necessarily a bad thing ... It simply is. To imply some sort of superiority over those who utilize technology in their homes differently than you do is short-sighted IMO.

FWIW, we often have at least one mobile device out on the counter each evening, as we routinely use apps and websites to share a devotional time together. There are so many ways that technology has enhanced our lives, so I choose to believe that the family living in the house with the raised island is using it to benefit theirs.

It is interesting that so many posters assume the outlets are for electronics. I was thinking they were more for plugging in warming trays and such for entertaining.